feuds.

"What on earth can be the meaning of this?" Arnold questioned of his
companion, who lay at his side.

"It's certainly extraordinary," the other man said. "Yet they don't seem
particularly aggressive."

"No. They offered no indignities, such as would have been our fortune in
olden days. But did you notice how that old warrior examined the knots
himself? He seems to be a sort of head-man. I can remember a smattering
of a few dialects, and I am sure I heard him say to the braves: 'Not too
tight. Do not hurt the pale-faces, but keep them firm.'"

"It's certainly mysterious," said Holden. "Perhaps we have arrived in
the middle of some sacred feast. Or perhaps we've come upon them when
they were about to carry out some form of lawlessness."

Arnold shook his head decidedly.

"No. There are no signs of feasts. As for the latter, these are
Dacotahs--one of the most law-abiding tribes. We'll have to look further
than that for an explanation. Of this I am certain: we are in no
immediate danger. That they are chattering about us is evident from
these side-glances; but there is nothing hostile in the looks."

"More like awe than hostility."

"Just what I was thinking. But see! That old warrior is coming our way
again. We'll learn something this time, perhaps."

As Arnold spoke, an old Indian was seen to step from the chattering
crowd. He was tall, well built, and still a fine specimen of manhood,
though his face bore traces of many years.

That he received the homage due to rank as well as to years was made
plain by the respectful way that a path was cleared, so that he might
pass through the group of twenty or thirty redskins. He carried himself
with the air of one who commands respect as his right.

All the same, though there was no hesitation in the steady stride with
which the Indian approached the captives, nor in the stern set of his
face, there was something in his eyes that indicated awe in the heart.
The other Indians barely attempted to conceal their feelings. Throughout
there was the expression that seemed to say (to put it in plain
English): "Plucky of you, old chap. But better you than me!"

Reaching the Englishmen, who were bound hands and legs, so that they
were unable to adopt any position unaided except sitting or lying down,
the old warrior stopped at a couple of yards' distance.

Drawing his blanket tightly round his figure, he folded his arms and
thus addressed the strangers in excellent